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Downtown Hamilton streets close for Grey Cup events starting Wednesday

This week’s Grey Cup celebration includes a street festival, a parade, Santa Claus and Carrie Underwood. It also includes some major road closures. Here’s what you need to know to get around. 

James Street North closed Wednesday for the festival. Other closures expected until Monday

Justin Chandler · CBC News ·
A barricade and a sign reading "Road Closed"
Starting Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., the City of Hamilton closed James Street North and York Boulevard to Cannon Street and Cannon Street to Barton Street East for the Grey Cup Festival. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

This week's Grey Cup celebration includes a street festival, a parade, Santa Claus and Carrie Underwood.

It also includes some major road closures during festivities for the CFL championship game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

With the city transit strike ongoing, many vehicles can be expected to be on the road. 

Here's what you need to know to get around. 

Parts of James, Cannon streets closed as of Wednesday

Starting Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., the city closed part of James Street North, from York Boulevard to Barton Street East for the Grey Cup Festival. 

The festival will include food trucks, a beer garden and markets. 

Closer to Tim Hortons Field in the east end, starting Wednesday at 9 p.m., Cannon Street East from Melrose Avenue to Balsam Avenue will be closed, re-opening on Monday at 5 a.m. 

A map showing road closures along James Street North.
These roads will be closed along James Street North for the Grey Cup. (City of Hamilton)

Community race to close Gage Avenue

On Thursday, the Grey Cup Student Run will close Gage Avenue, from Main Street East to Cannon Street East, and Cannon Street East, from Gage Avenue to Balsam Avenue North, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The kilometre-long race will see students run from Gage Park to Tim Hortons Field.

Trucks and a tent sit in an empty street while scaffolding for a stage is erected at the end.
The Grey Cup Festival on James Street North will include food trucks, a beer garden and markets. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

Saturday's Santa Claus and Grey Cup Parade 

On Saturday, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Santa Claus coming to town closes several downtown streets:

  • Bay Street, Strachan Street West to Barton Street East.
  • Barton Street East, Hess Street North to John Street East.
  • Wilson Street and York Boulevard, Hess Street North to John Street North.
  • Hess Street, York Boulevard to Stuart Street.
  • Stuart Street, Barton Street West to Bay Street North.

The holiday parade is being combined with a Grey Cup parade this year, so Santa will be joined by cheerleaders and the Grey Cup trophy. 

Game day closures

For game day on Sunday, the city is closing the following streets between Saturday at 11 p.m. and Monday at 7 a.m.:

  • Cannon Street East, from Connaught Avenue to Barnesdale Avenue North.
  • Melrose Avenue North, from Cannon Street East to Beechwood Avenue.
  • Balsam Avenue North, from Cannon Street East to Beechwood Avenue.
  • Beechwood Avenue, from Melrose Avenue North to Balsam Avenue North.
A map showing road closures in east Hamilton around Tim Hortons Field.
These roads will be closed around Tim Hortons Field for the Grey Cup. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justin Chandler

Reporter

Justin Chandler is a CBC News reporter in Hamilton. He has a special interest in how public policy affects people, and he loves a quirky human-interest story. Justin covered current affairs in Hamilton and Niagara for TVO, and has worked on a variety of CBC teams and programs, including As It Happens, Day 6 and CBC Music. He co-hosted Radio Free Krypton on Met Radio. You can email story ideas to justin.chandler(at)cbc(dot)ca.

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